Where is the Love of God?
“Location, location, location,” is the mantra of real estate investors. They know that location and value are intimately related. The same is true for the love of God.
When preachers proclaim Christ, they rarely speak of location. Does location matter with God? If there is truly a separation between God and man, then reconciliation requires relocation. The Bible teaches that God is immutable, unchanging. God is unmoved.
Sin has tethered man to the will of the demon god of this world, Satan (Rom 6:6; 2 Cor 4:4). Man is not going anywhere, either. The corruption of man is so pervasive that man could never will a change for himself (Jn 1:13; Rom 8:7). The Bible teaches that sinful man is actually, “dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1).” Dead men change nothing.
The impasse between the immutable God and imprisoned humanity requires a Mediator, and God has provided His only begotten Son to rectify the separation (1 Tim 2:5). If God had decreed something other than reconciliation, all people would suffer the just punishment for their separation-causing sins (Mt 25:46; Jude 7). Man is fully responsible for causing the estrangement with his Creator God (Gen 3), who in His love, has chosen to have mercy on some (Rom 9:15–16). Where did this happen?
Our first location for finding God’s love is in Himself. Before He created the world, God chose to create a people for Him to love, forever. He predestined their salvation before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4–5; Rom 8:29–30). God’s love was bestowed, by His will, in eternity past, in Himself.
Our second location for finding God’s love is in the world (Jn 3:16). God demonstrated His love toward us, the church, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). Thus, at the place of the skull, Golgotha, God was displaying His love for His people (Gal 2:20; Eph 5:25). In love, God the Father gifted His elect people to God the Son, that they might be one in God’s love (Jn 17). Love closed the gap of separation at the appointed time at the appointed place, and in the appointed way.
In a world hostile toward God, an embassy was built, a city of refuge was constructed. A designated people were shown mercy. Refugees from a despot dictator were granted asylum on holy ground. They were called out from their labors in the field of sin, “Come to Me!” While one continued to serve sin, another one followed the suddenly familiar voice, summoning his presence to a place of love.
Our third location for finding the love of God is in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Love chose us. Love paid for our safe passage to God’s safe house in the world. In this house of God, a temple sanctuary in the Spirit (Eph 2:20–22), God’s adoption of refugee children is manifest, in granting them the right to be called, His children (1 Jn 3:1, 10).
These beloved ones have received the love of God in the company of God’s other adopted children. Together with brethren from every nation, tribe, and tongue, the children of God experience divine love (1 Jn 3:1; 4:19).
Our fourth place of finding God’s love is in our hearts. The Spirit of God, who is love, has spread His love abroad within our hearts (Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 5:5). Love, God’s love, manifests as a fruit of the indwelling Spirit (Rom 8:9, 11; Gal 5:22). Christ does His work of love in the believer’s heart and through the believer’s life.
Our final place of finding God’s love is in the New Jerusalem, the heavenly Zion, the city of our God, in a better country beyond this war-torn world (Rev 21–22). Perfect love is the law of that place of God’s personal presence. There is no sin there, no fear there, no strife, no tears, because it is our heavenly home for eternity.
Love was there for God’s beloved people in eternity past. It appeared in the world at Calvary. It is in the gathering of the elect, because each one has God’s love in their hearts. Love will not fail on the day of departure from God’s earthly embassy. Our loving home, the place of everlasting love is our predetermined destination. Love is sure to bring many sons to the glory of that place of perfect love. Here are the places of God’s everlasting love for His people.
How comforting it is to know that love has been with us from the beginning. Love is with us now, and love will never leave us nor forsake us. Who can separate us from that kind of love? It is everywhere He is, and it is everywhere His children are. This is the inescapable love of God for His beloved.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
September 24, 2021
